I’m fine with killing off political “discussion” entirely here. The ‘nets are chock-a-block with outlets for ranting & chanting & posturing, which is what all this kerfuffle has descended to. One of my fav guitar sites made such a choice a few years ago, which resulted in a drastic decrease in jerkitude (the jerks bailed) and a corresponding increase in not only relevant but humane conversation.

Which it the cost and benefit of free speech. You can't just get the good part all the time. As Marilyn (that would be Monroe, for the Millennials) would say: “if you can't handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best.”

Like where?

Where else I can discuss such things not with total, mostly anonymous strangers, but with real people who I got to know over the years reasonably well, from their photography, to their musings and writings about photography, from their professional history to their family history, forming a pretty good idea of who they are, and forming a respect for what they did in their life and with their life? Those are the people I am willing to listen to, engage with, exchange opinions, even if we disagree (especially if we disagree). And stay friends even if we politely disagree. Those who can not disagree politely, should be banned and the offending post removed. Not the thread.

If it was not clear from the above, I am strongly against removing whole threads and banning certain subjects.

Sorry, only just noticed that there was a question directed at me. Truth is I was just assuming that there are lots of places to discuss these things, but I don't actually know any because I have never sought them out. I guess others have answered in the meantime. It's a fair point to enjoy discussions with people you already know something about. I can't give you any advice about how to find any.

I understand your point about not liking the removal of threads or banning certain subjects. But this is a matter for the owners of the board to decide. They are in effect publishers, and like any other publisher they have final say on what they want to publish.

A Private Facebook Group could be a good home for you and your LULA buddies.

There was a similar problem back in the day on Photosig during the Gulf war. One solution by a bunch of us from both sides was to start a forum on Delphi and just go there to duke it, no holds bared. It worked very well for a number of years but slowly faded away. Interestingly, a number of us became RL friends and are still in contact and visit while we travel or we have get togethers.